Life is short :

How to celebrate everyday, not just on Christmas day

Let me wish readers of Biz Talk Merry Christmas and Happy holidays !

I know you are in a holiday mood and reading serious stuff is the least focus, so let me be very brief this week and try and deliver a relevant and meaningful message.

The significant feature of Christmas celebrations is 'giving'.

The moment you think of giving or receiving what comes to mind is material gifts you can touch and feel.

While it's a nice thing to do, giving intangibles make more sense and help people beyond instant happiness when you receive or give a material gift. Life doesn't end with a single day's celebrations

How can we make every day a happy day?

Life is short. We won't get to celebrate too many annual holidays. How can we make the next holiday season a more fruitful one? How meaningfully can we spend this holiday season to make our lives better and help others to achieve the same in the long-term?

Offer and receive things you can't buy off the shelf

We need new perspectives, insights, ideas and energy and motivation and time and lots of other intangible things that can't be bought off the shelf. Happiness is not under the Christmas tree but in the hearts and minds of people.

It shouldn't limit itself to traditional holidays or statutory holidays. It can sometimes be found on the most ordinary of Mondays.

Sometimes it just blows in like a swallow in December. Sometimes when you want it most you can't have it. And sometimes you're up to your elbows with it. The holidays do not have to remain rigidyear after year.

By opening yourself up to change and letting go of traditions that have become too difficult or expensive, you afford yourself an opportunity to shape your holiday experience to reflect your current lifestyle and personality and learn something for the future.

Bring everyone together

It's what holidays are really about - the chance to renew friendships and spend long-overdue time finding out what's going on in everyone else's life.

So a gathering of friends is always a nice surprise to spring on someone.

The holiday season is typically a time when extended family members spend more time together. Leaving normal routines, hectic travel, and decreased personal space can all lead to conflict with the family members you ironically, want to enjoy.

Offer and receive feedback - exchange ideas - mentor others or be mentored by someone who has something to offer you. There is no better opportunity than the holiday season to interact with people with an open mind. Enjoy doing what you like to do but also find time to try what I have advocated.

I'm sure you will discover new ways of improving your life while helping others with your new insights. This would offer sustainable happiness as against a gift offering an instant happiness. A good balance between the two maybe a good start. Enjoy and be safe.

Talk to you again next year!